AFC Ann Arbor

AFC Ann Arbor is an American soccer club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that currently plays in USL League Two. The team played in the National Premier Soccer League from 2016 to 2019.

AFC Ann Arbor
Full nameAFC Ann Arbor
Nickname(s)The Mighty Oak
Founded2014 (2014)
StadiumConcordia University Ann Arbor
ManagerEric Rudland
LeagueUSL League Two
20192nd, Great Lakes Conference (NPSL)
WebsiteClub website

History
AFC Ann Arbor in action against San Marino Soccer in a 2015 friendly at Hollway Field

AFC Ann Arbor was started by a group of Ann Arbor residents with a desire to have a local team. The team had applied to the National Premier Soccer League for the 2015 season but its application was declined. Instead, AFC Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids FC, another team denied by the NPSL, decided to start a league of their own called the Great Lakes Premier League.[1] The new league held its inaugural meetings on January 17, 2015.

Starting with the 2016 season, AFC Ann Arbor played in the National Premier Soccer League as part of the Midwest Region[2] under manager Eric Rudland, formerly of Lansing United.[3] They finished in second place in the Great Lakes West Division in their first NPSL season, advancing to the national playoffs, but ultimately losing to AFC Cleveland on penalty kicks.

The 2017 season brought more success for AFC Ann Arbor as they won their first ever Great Lakes Division Championship and the inaugural Michigan Milk Cup in the process.[4] They again advanced to the NPSL national playoffs defeating the Dayton Dynamo in the second record (having received a bye in the first round) before falling to Detroit City FC 3–2 in extra time in the Midwest regional final.[5]

The 2018 season brought AFC Ann Arbor their second consecutive Great Lakes Division Championship, topping FC Columbus 1–0 for the championship.[6] AFCAA were given a bye to the semi-finals for the NPSL Midwest Regionals. The side hosted the semis and finals at Ann Arbor Huron High School.[7] The club topped Cleveland SC 1–0 in the semi-finals, but fell to Duluth FC in penalty kicks in the final.[8][9] Following the season's conclusion, Joseph Stanley Okumu, a center back that spent the 2018 season with the club, was named TopDrawerSoccer.com NPSL Player of the Year.[10]

In the 2019 season, AFCAA made the playoffs for the fourth time in as many seasons in the NPSL. The postseason match was embroiled in controversy as the match against Rochester Lancers had to be called off in the 69th minute after a series of weather delays. Because Cardinal Stadium does not have lights, the match could not be completed outdoors and contingency plans were rejected by Lancers. After initially looking at a coin flip finish to the match,[11] the match was finished in Erie, PA, where Lancers won in penalties.[12] Ahead of the 2019 season, AFC Ann Arbor announced they would be adding a women's side set to begin play in United Women's Soccer.[13] The side finished sixth in the six-team UWS Midwest winning two matches in their inaugural season.

Ahead of the 2020 season, AFC Ann Arbor announced their joining USL League Two.[14]

Stadium

AFCAA's home field beginning with the 2019 season is Concordia University's Cardinal Stadium, located off of Geddes Road in Ann Arbor.[15] Hollway Field, located at Pioneer High School, was AFCAA's home field for the first three seasons of the team's existence. The team then moved to Skyline High School for the 2018 season.[16]

Head coaches
  • David Hebestreit (2014–2015)
  • Eric Rudland (2015–present)

Year-by-year
Year Tier League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Average
Attendance
2015 5 GLPL 3rd of 5 (2–2–4) N/A[A] Ineligible[B]
2016 4 NPSL 2nd of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes West (6–3–3) Regional semifinal Ineligible[B]
2017 4 NPSL 1st of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (12–1–1) Regional Final First round
2018 4 NPSL 1st of 7, Midwest-Great Lakes (9–1–2) Regional Final First round
2019 4 NPSL 2nd of 8, Midwest-Great Lakes (9–2–3) Regional quarterfinal First round
  1. ^
    A No playoffs were held in the inaugural season of the Great Lakes Premier League.
  2. ^
    B To enter the U.S. Open Cup, a team must have belonged to an affiliated league with at least 4 teams that played a schedule of at least 10 games.[17]

References
  1. "NPSL denies Ann Arbor semi-pro soccer club's application; owners plan to establish new league". MLive.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  2. "A year after being denied, AFC Ann Arbor joins National Premier Soccer League". MLive.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  3. "Former Lansing United coach Eric Rudland takes the helm at AFC Ann Arbor". MLive.com. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  4. "Ann Arbor Close Out Regular Season Undefeated at Hollway". AFC Ann Arbor. July 18, 2017.
  5. "Late Goal Lifts Detroit Past Ann Arbor in Midwest Region Championship". AFC Ann Arbor. July 30, 2017.
  6. "Golden Limousine Match Preview: AFC Ann Arbor vs FC Indiana [NPSL National Game of the Week]". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  7. "Ann Arbor Wins Bid to Host 2018 NPSL Midwest Region Playoffs". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  8. "Ann Arbor Punches Ticket to Midwest Region Final with 1–0 Win Over Cleveland". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  9. "Duluth Crowned Champions of the Midwest Region In Intense Penalty Shootout – Duluth FC". www.duluthfc.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  10. "Okumu Named 2018 TopDrawerSoccer.com Player of the Year". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  11. "Midwest Region Quarterfinal To Be Decided By Coin Toss". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  12. O'Connor, Larry. "Rochester defeats AFC Ann Arbor on PKs in NPSL Midwest quarterfinal, advances to semis". Detroit News. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  13. "AFC Ann Arbor Women's Team Set to Compete in United Women's Soccer in 2019". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  14. "AFC Ann Arbor Men's Team Will Begin Play in USL2 in 2020". AFC Ann Arbor. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  15. "AFCAA and Concordia University Reach Multiyear Home Facility Agreement". afcannarbor.com. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  16. "AFC Ann Arbor soccer team changing home venues in 2018". mlive.com. MLive Media Group. February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  17. "How do you enter the 2016 US Open Cup?".
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